Area Code 0158 – Lambaréné

Overview of Gabon's Geographic Numbering Plan

Gabon's national numbering plan adheres to the ITU-T E.164 recommendation, with a country calling code of +241. Geographic numbers are allocated to fixed-line services within specific administrative regions. The prefix 0158 is designated as a National Destination Code (NDC) for the city of Lambaréné, the capital of Moyen-Ogooué Province. This code is used for fixed-line PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) services, and its structure follows the national dialing format.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

Lambaréné is situated on the Ogooué River and serves as a major economic and administrative hub in central Gabon. The 0158 prefix covers the urban and suburban areas of Lambaréné, including surrounding localities within the Moyen-Ogooué Province. As a geographic code, it is tied to a physical location, and calls to this prefix are routed to the local exchange. The jurisdiction is managed by the Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes (ARCEP), Gabon's national regulatory authority.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For local callers within Gabon, the number is dialed as 0158 XX XX XX (8 digits after the trunk prefix '0'). For international callers, the format is +241 158 XX XX XX (note the omission of the leading '0' when using the country code). Example: To call a fixed line in Lambaréné with the number 0158 12 34 56, a caller from abroad would dial +241 158 12 34 56. Local callers within Gabon should dial the full national number, including the trunk prefix '0'.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for Lambaréné; the 0158 prefix is exclusive to this region. However, as Gabon's telecommunications market evolves, number portability may allow subscribers to retain their numbers when changing operators, but geographic numbers remain tied to the region for routing purposes. Callers should be aware that fixed-line numbers are not mobile and cannot be reached via SMS.

Technical and Regulatory Notes

The 0158 prefix is part of Gabon's national numbering plan, which allocates geographic codes to fixed-line services. The country's numbering plan is managed by ARCEP, which ensures compliance with ITU-T standards. For businesses or individuals in Lambaréné, having a local geographic number enhances local presence and is often used for official and administrative purposes. When dialing from overseas, always use the international prefix (e.g., 00 or +) followed by the country code and the national number without the leading '0'.